Government support revealed to keep South Pennines plans on track

The regeneration agency for the South Pennines has received a £436,400 boost from the Government’s £1.57 billion scheme to help the organisation through the coronavirus pandemic.

Helen Noble, Chief Executive of Pennine Prospects, said: “We are extremely grateful for this timely support in what has been an incredibly difficult period. It means we can banish the uncertainty and forge ahead with our detailed planning to create a South Pennines Park.

"Moving forward with this ambition is even more important as we look ahead to recover from the hit to the region’s economy and cultural sector from the pandemic. The funding will also allow us to run stakeholder and community engagement programmes through the creative arts which otherwise would have been shelved.”

The South Pennines, England’s largest undesignated upland heritage landscape, is a stunning and unique place spanning over 460 square miles. It is home to over 660,000 people and easily accessible to over eight million more from the surrounding city regions of Leeds, Manchester and East Lancashire A self-managed South Pennines Park – the first national landscape of its kind in the UK - will tread new ground, putting an equal emphasis on making the South Pennines a better place for people and nature, Supported by local authorities and other stakeholders, the move was welcomed by the Glover Review on Designated Landscapes which reported last year

The Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage is administered by Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Along with the Heritage Stimulus Fund, the schemes are designed to secure the future of Britain’s museums, galleries, theatres, independent cinemas, heritage sites and music venues with emergency grants and loans.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “As a nation it is essential that we preserve our heritage and celebrate and learn from our past. This massive support package will protect our shared heritage for future generations, save jobs and help us prepare for a cultural bounceback post Covid.”

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “It is absolutely right that investing in heritage should be a priority during this crisis and this support by the Government is crucial. Heritage creates jobs and economic prosperity, is a major driver for tourism and makes our towns, cities and rural areas better places to live. All of this is so important for our well-being and will be particularly vital when we start to emerge from this incredibly difficult time.”